Crossing borders, crossing genres

Norwegian author Alex Dahl brings Nordic noir to Filipino readers

- JESSICA PAG-IWAYAN

For generations, the Philippines' colonial history—first under Spain and later the US—has shaped not only its politics and culture but also the reading habits of its people. Most of us grew up on a steady diet of telenovelas and English-language classics, from the haunting tales of Edgar Allan Poe to the sharp prose of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway.

European literature outside the English canon—whether Russian, Finnish, or Norwegian—has long remained a distant curiosity.

But times are changing. International book fairs like the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF), coupled with cultural initiatives from embassies, are opening doors to new literary worlds. Among the voices breaking through is Norwegian author Alex Dahl, whose psychologically charged thrillers are introducing Filipino readers to the chilly elegance of Nordic noir.